In a sea of misanthropic and snark-inspired stand-up, Adam Vincent’s comedy has always been remarkable for its subtlety, sensitivity and humanity.
In a sea of misanthropic and snark-inspired stand-up, Adam Vincent’s comedy has always been remarkable for its subtlety, sensitivity and humanity. Typically, his shows are rich with complexity and meaning, artfully blending hope and heartache in his own inimitable chiaroscuro.
Adam Vincent is now a father. This changes a man. Life, in both practical and more philosophical ways, is radically transformed. Once this is then filtered through a comedic lens, it becomes a brand new show.
For this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival Adam Vincent will be performing Dad Feet. Four years ago, he and fellow performer Nicky Talacko met on the comedy circuit. Four months ago, they welcomed their first son, Hugo, into the world.
Although he’s called the show Dad Feet, Vincent says it’s not actually about babies. “It’s more about the world that my baby is coming into, so what is best for my child,” he explains. “It’s my child’s birthright to live in synchronicity with the earth and I just don’t think Deal Or No Deal is helping that,” he says.
Last year’s comedy festival show Vital Signs, which he has just finished another season of as part of the Adelaide Fringe festival, was a tale about how Vincent, who is a qualified nurse by day, saved a man’s life on a plane. That show, he says, was more scripted. “Especially when I was doing the show in Edinburgh, there was no ability to break out and chat,” he says. By contrast, Dad Feet will be more stand-up oriented, interactive and in terms of content, one of his most topical shows to date. “Having a child allows you to talk about anything you want, it’s all so relevant to the next generation,” he says.
Food will be just one of the topics he tackles. “We live in a pretty crazy world. A lot of humans don’t respect what they put in their bodies. We have obese celebrities promoting microwave dinners, for Christ’s sake!” he says. “It’s ridiculous – and not nutritious”.
Water will also be discussed. “They’ve come out and said babies aren’t supposed to have fluoride, and I question in this show why we even have fluoride in the water. People are going to think I’m a conspiracy theorist nut but I’m not, I’m just a Dad who doesn’t know. I’m not saying either way, I’m just saying I don’t know.”
Chlorine is another issue. “I read in my gardening book – I’ve got no backyard but I’ve got a pot plant and I’ve got a book for it – and it says to put your water (that you’re going to put in the pot plant) in the sun before you water it because that will get rid of the chlorine. And I’m thinking, I’m drinking chlorine but it’s not good enough for my plant? So what is good for my child? Do I have to do that to his water before he has a drink?”
Throughout the show he says he will examine the current state of the world, and how this might impact the future, and question what is right and what is not. “There’s an anxiety to it and I kind of put a voice to all that.” For that reason, he says, you don’t need to be a parent yourself to see the show. “It’s not about being a parent as much as it being a part of a community”.
Adam Vincent performs Dad Feet at The Forum Theatre Ladies’ Lounge from March 31 – April 24. It’s at 8.15pm Tuesday – Saturday and 7.15pm Sundays. Tickets are $16 – $23.50 and available from Ticketmaster online, 1300 660 013 and at the door.
